AMS 311S •
American Places Of Leisure

31070 •
Spring 2014
Meets
MWF 1200pm-100pm BUR 228

As the 19th century drew to a close, American cities began to give birth to a vibrant new mass culture. Much of this culture manifested itself in new entertainment venues, including amusement parks, zoos, and cinemas. As the century wore on, these entertainment spaces increased in number and complexity, becoming a familiar part of life in America – and in many other countries as well. In this course we will explore the history of these spaces, using them as a lens through which to explore larger currents of cultural change.

This course will be divided into three sections. The first will explore the early days of amusement spaces as they arose alongside mass culture in American cities. In the second section of the course we will deal with the new age of amusements that began with the opening of Disneyland in 1955. The final section of the course will deal with the modern era of amusement spaces, an era defined by the globalization of mass amusements.

The locations we will be discussing in this class – amusement parks, malls, zoos, and so on – are fun places often understood as frivolous and bereft of meaning. We will be working to peer beneath the surface of these entertaining spaces, uncovering the extremely rich cultural forces that define and drive them and coming to grips with the way they influence American culture. We will touch on a wide range of topics, including race, class, and gender roles, shifting understandings of public and private and man and nature, the rise of globalization, and the emergence of a corporately-driven “convergence culture.” Our ultimate goal is to come to a better understanding of the profound effect seemingly meaningless amusement spaces have on American culture.

AMS 311S •
American Places Of Leisure

30715 •
Fall 2013
Meets
MWF 100pm-200pm BUR 228

As the 19th century drew to a close, American cities began to give birth to a vibrant new mass culture. Much of this culture manifested itself in new entertainment venues, including amusement parks, zoos, and cinemas. As the century wore on, these entertainment spaces increased in number and complexity, becoming a familiar part of life in America – and in many other countries as well. In this course we will explore the history of these spaces, using them as a lens through which to explore larger currents of cultural change.

This course will be divided into three sections. The first will explore the early days of amusement spaces as they arose alongside mass culture in American cities. In the second section of the course we will deal with the new age of amusements that began with the opening of Disneyland in 1955. The final section of the course will deal with the modern era of amusement spaces, an era defined by the globalization of mass amusements.

The locations we will be discussing in this class – amusement parks, malls, zoos, and so on – are fun places often understood as frivolous and bereft of meaning. We will be working to peer beneath the surface of these entertaining spaces, uncovering the extremely rich cultural forces that define and drive them and coming to grips with the way they influence American culture. We will touch on a wide range of topics, including race, class, and gender roles, shifting understandings of public and private and man and nature, the rise of globalization, and the emergence of a corporately-driven “convergence culture.” Our ultimate goal is to come to a better understanding of the profound effect seemingly meaningless amusement spaces have on American culture.

AMS 311S •
American Places Of Leisure

30680 •
Spring 2013
Meets
MWF 1100am-1200pm BUR 228

As the 19th century drew to a close, American cities began to give birth to a vibrant new mass culture. Much of this culture manifested itself in new entertainment venues, including amusement parks, zoos, and cinemas. As the century wore on, these entertainment spaces increased in number and complexity, becoming a familiar part of life in America – and in many other countries as well. In this course we will explore the history of these spaces, using them as a lens through which to explore larger currents of cultural change.

This course will be divided into three sections. The first will explore the early days of amusement spaces as they arose alongside mass culture in American cities. In the second section of the course we will deal with the new age of amusements that began with the opening of Disneyland in 1955. The final section of the course will deal with the modern era of amusement spaces, an era defined by the globalization of mass amusements.

The locations we will be discussing in this class – amusement parks, malls, zoos, and so on – are fun places often understood as frivolous and bereft of meaning. We will be working to peer beneath the surface of these entertaining spaces, uncovering the extremely rich cultural forces that define and drive them and coming to grips with the way they influence American culture. We will touch on a wide range of topics, including race, class, and gender roles, shifting understandings of public and private and man and nature, the rise of globalization, and the emergence of a corporately-driven “convergence culture.” Our ultimate goal is to come to a better understanding of the profound effect seemingly meaningless amusement spaces have on American culture.

AMS 311S •
American Places Of Leisure

30685 •
Spring 2013
Meets
MWF 200pm-300pm BUR 228

As the 19th century drew to a close, American cities began to give birth to a vibrant new mass culture. Much of this culture manifested itself in new entertainment venues, including amusement parks, zoos, and cinemas. As the century wore on, these entertainment spaces increased in number and complexity, becoming a familiar part of life in America – and in many other countries as well. In this course we will explore the history of these spaces, using them as a lens through which to explore larger currents of cultural change.

This course will be divided into three sections. The first will explore the early days of amusement spaces as they arose alongside mass culture in American cities. In the second section of the course we will deal with the new age of amusements that began with the opening of Disneyland in 1955. The final section of the course will deal with the modern era of amusement spaces, an era defined by the globalization of mass amusements.

The locations we will be discussing in this class – amusement parks, malls, zoos, and so on – are fun places often understood as frivolous and bereft of meaning. We will be working to peer beneath the surface of these entertaining spaces, uncovering the extremely rich cultural forces that define and drive them and coming to grips with the way they influence American culture. We will touch on a wide range of topics, including race, class, and gender roles, shifting understandings of public and private and man and nature, the rise of globalization, and the emergence of a corporately-driven “convergence culture.” Our ultimate goal is to come to a better understanding of the profound effect seemingly meaningless amusement spaces have on American culture.

AMS 311S •
American Places Of Leisure

30595 •
Fall 2012
Meets
MWF 100pm-200pm BUR 228

As the 19th century drew to a close, American cities began to give birth to a vibrant new mass culture. Much of this culture manifested itself in new entertainment venues, including amusement parks, zoos, and cinemas. As the century wore on, these entertainment spaces increased in number and complexity, becoming a familiar part of life in America – and in many other countries as well. In this course we will explore the history of these spaces, using them as a lens through which to explore larger currents of cultural change.

This course will be divided into three sections. The first will explore the early days of amusement spaces as they arose alongside mass culture in American cities. In the second section of the course we will deal with the new age of amusements that began with the opening of Disneyland in 1955. The final section of the course will deal with the modern era of amusement spaces, an era defined by the globalization of mass amusements.

The locations we will be discussing in this class – amusement parks, malls, zoos, and so on – are fun places often understood as frivolous and bereft of meaning. We will be working to peer beneath the surface of these entertaining spaces, uncovering the extremely rich cultural forces that define and drive them and coming to grips with the way they influence American culture. We will touch on a wide range of topics, including race, class, and gender roles, shifting understandings of public and private and man and nature, the rise of globalization, and the emergence of a corporately-driven “convergence culture.” Our ultimate goal is to come to a better understanding of the profound effect seemingly meaningless amusement spaces have on American culture.